Safety razor



May 15, 1923. A 1,455,532

J. N. JoHNsoN SAFETY RAZOR Filed May 22, 1920 `2 sh'eets-snnt 1l A u aiNVENTOR.

W mA TTORNEYS.

May 15, 1923.l 1,455,532

J. N. JOHNSON SAFETY RAZOR Filed May 22, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gay/a. 1f?. f5

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WATTORNEY.

'Patented May 15, 1923.

UNITED STATES JOHN N. JOHNSON. OF A1313UQUERQU'I'J, MEXICO.

SAFETY RAZOR.

Application led Hay 22, 1920. Serial 110.3835373.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. JOHNSON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Albuquerque, in the county ofBernalillo and State of New Mexico, have invented cerltain new anduseful Improvements in Safety Razors, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to power operated razors, and particularly tosafety razors in which the blade is given a very rapid cutting movement.

An object ofmy invention is to provide a safety razor of thls type inwhich the cutting blade at each movement will be shifted in a directionoblique to its cutting edge and thus simulate the movement dinary razorin use.

A further object is toprovide a. safety razor which 4can be adjusted tocut more or less closely, as desired, without changing the angle ofinclination of the blade to the sur face to be shaved.

A. further object is to provide a power operated razor in which the rateof the cut ting movements can be varied at will within certain limits.

A. further object is to provide a razor of the above type which issimple and compact in construction, convenient, safe and efficient inoperation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

@ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription. and the novel features of my invention will be particularlypointed out in claims.

ln the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of a razor in which myinvention has been einbodied;

Fig. 2 is a `section substantially along the line a-a of Fig. 1; l

Fig. 3 is a section substantially along-the line --b of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially along the line c-c of Fig. 2; I Y Fig.5 is an elevation of certain of the details;

` 6 is a section substantially along the line @L -Z of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section substantially along the line e-e of Fig. 1;. 1 i

.Fig. 8 is a longitudinal-section of the han- Y dle and illustratingthemotor Acarried theregiven an or- Fig. 9 is a front elevation of theblade cover plate which acts as a rear guard;

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the same, and

Fig. 11 is an elevation of a modification orfl 'certain details.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support or body 1 is provided withanextension 2 forming an advance or forward guard,

and an upstanding .wall 3. A tubular handle l is detachably connected tobody or support 1 by any suitable means such as screws 5. Secured to oneface of the wall 3 is a pair of parallel V-shaped guides 6 and 7, withthe apex'of each guide pointing toward lthe other. A vibrating 0r bladecarrying frame or member 8 is provided upon its rear face or wall 9 witha similar pair of parallel V-shaped guides 10 and 11 having the apexesof the guides pointing toward each other and also having thecorresponding guides upon the walls 3 and 9 in telescopic position, as'

indicated in the drawing, so that the frame 8 can slide or reciprocateupon the wall 3 of the support 1 due to the sliding of the guides 10 and11 upon guides "56 and 7. lf desired.,-

one of the guides 6 or 7, or both, may havela' portion of one end bentto form a stop lug '6a for limiting the movement in a cutting directionby Contact with the end of the corresponding guide, as indicated in Fig.11. |The forward face or wall 12 of the frame 8 is provided with twoparallel rows of lugs or guides 13 and 14e extending outwardlyVtherefrom to guide a blade carrier plate 15 for reciprocation thereon.This plate 15 carriesat one edge thereof aV projecting lug 16 'inposition to be engaged and cammed in one direction by a screw 17adjustably carried by a lug 18 extending forwardly from the face 12 ofthe frame. The face 12 is also provided with ears 19 extending therefromt0 which ears 20 upon a cover plate 21 are pivoted by screw pins 22carried by the other in accordance with the direction of operation ofthe screw. The ears 20 of the cover 21. each have al1-angular corner atthe junction of the ears and cover, which in open position as indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 6, or in the closed position indicated by thefull lines in Fig. 6. The ears 19 are provided with rearward extensions24 which engage over one edge of the spring 23 and.

prevent any edgewise displacement from operative position behind theears. Lugs 25 on opposite sides of the plate 15 are adapted to engagewith the lugs 13 and 14 and limit excessive movement of the plate uponthe wall 12. The plate 15 is provided with lugs 26, preferably struck uptherefrom, which receive apertures 27 in a removable and reversibledoublefedged cutter or razor blade 28 and support the latter thereon.The forward or free edge of the cover plate 21 when in closed position,engages with the blade 28 adjacent to its forward cutting edge and holdsthe blade firmly against the plate 15. A spring 29 carried on the underside of the cover plate also engages with another portion ofthe blade 28and assists in holding 1t against plate 15. In order to simulate' themost etlcient manual movement employed in handling an ordinary razor,and

give the cutting edge of the blade 28 a simultaneous or combined forwardand endwise movement, the guides 6, 7, 10 and 11 are arrangednon-parallel to andA non-perpendicular t0 the cutting edge of the blade,so as to cause the movement upon the support 1 or wal13 to be in adirection inclined to the cutting edge of the blade. During the cuttingmovements the cover plate 21 moves with the frame 8 and blade 28, andacts as a rear guard. Adjustment of the screw 17 will thrust the forwardcutting edge of the blade .28 varying extents through the space betweenthe two guards to cause the blade to make a light or close-cut asdesired, the

I blade 28, plate 15 and wall 12 being inclined to the surface beingshaved and to the wall 3 or plane of the guides, by. an-angle preferablyap roximating 20 which is the angle at whic an ordinary razor blade iscommonly 'presented to the surface being shaved.

The means for imparting vibratory movements to the frame and bladecomprises a motor upon or within the tubular handle 4 and having anoperating member extending 'therefrom into operative engagement with theframe. A base piece 30 of soft iron, extends along one wall of thehandle 4 a short distance, then crosses to and extends 'along the otherwall in the same direction, and has in the cross over portion a shortsection 31 parallelwith the end sections. Upon the y`inside faces of thebase piece 30 are a plurality of electromagnets 32 and 33, the electromagnets 32 being disposed upon the slec-` `along the free ends of theelectromagnets,

being provided with a cross over section 36 for this purpose. Theelectromagnets 32 and 33 will, when energized, pull upon the armature torotate the same in one direction, such rotation beine' opposed by aflexible and resilientl extension 37 of the armature which engages withan abutment or stop 38 that may or may not be adjustably carried by thehandle 4. This arrangement of electromagnets provides the most eicientpull upon the armature when a series of electromagnets are employed in asmall linear space. The end 39 ofthe armature which is opposite from theend extension 37, extends beyond handle' 4, passes through a clearanceopening 40 in the wall 3 of thesupport 1, and engages operabl y in anaperture 41 in a plate 42 extending transversely between and secured tothe guides 10 and 11 of the frame, whereby oscillation of the armatureabout its pivot 35 will produce vibratory movements of the frame 8 andblade 28 upon the support 1. The electromagnets and armature 34 aredisposed in a plane parallel with the guides 6, 7, 10 and 11, so thatoscillation of the end 39 of the armature will be in a directionparallel with the movement of the frame on the guides and therebyprevent binding and insure a free action. The aperture 41 in the plate42 may conveniently be formed by striking up lugs 43 therefrom, the lugsact- .elongated aperture or slot 44. A layer of in sulation 45 isprovided with a slot 46 aligned with slot 44 and also carries thereon asomewhat U-shaped spring contact 47, the free end of which extendsupwardly at an acute angle to the extension 37. The free end of thecontact 47 carries a contact piece 48 which is adapted at times toengage with a similar Contact piece 49 upon ythe under side of theextension 37. The contact 47 is connected by a wire 50 to a terminalplate 51 and to which one circuit wire 52 coming from the source ofcurrent 53 is connected. A post 54 isgslidably mounted upon the insideof the handle by means of a screw threaded therein and passing throughthe aligned slots' 44 and 46 with the head upon the outside of thehandle, A spring plate 56 disposed between the screw head and handleprovides frictional means for securing the post 54 .in any adjustedposition along the slots. The post 54 is provided with a tail piece 57for holding the same upright, and a depending strip 58 vupon the lowerface of the post slides in the slots and prevents turning of the postabout the screw as a pivot. The post has threaded through its upper endand parallel with the walls of theihandle a screw 59 having an insulatedtip 60 therel on for engagement with the contact 47. Thus if the post isstationary the screw can be operated to cam the contact 47 intooperative position with respect to the extension 37 Ior permit of itsretraction from that position,

or the ost can be shifted along the slot .to

cause t e screw which moves therewith to cam the contact 47 intooperative position with respect to the extension or to release thecontact and vpermit it to sprin away from the extension. In order tofacilitate shifting movements of the post 54, the spring plate .tery orother source of current. The circuit 1s of course, made and .brokenbetween con-V e tact points 48 and 49.

ln operation the cover plate 21 islifted, a sharp blade 28 placed inposition upon plate vl5, the cover plate closed, and the razor connectedto source of current 531 lf now the plate 56 is shifted to the left,(Figs. l and 8) the post 54 and screw 59 will be shifted also, and tip60 of the screw will camthe :contact 47'. into operative position withrespect to the extension 37, which latter, due to its reaction'with theabutment 38 holds the larmature at its extreme position away from theelectromagnets. Engagement' of the contact points 48 and 49 causesenergize.- tion of the electromagnets and consequent attraction of thearmature. Movement of the armature carriesvwith it the extension 37 andthe circuit is broken at contacts 48 and 49. During the movement of thearmature towards the electromagnets, the extension 37 isl exedlsothatjas soon asthe circuit is broken the-armature will be returned toinitial 'p'osition" and the circuit againA made. Thus the armaturewillbe repeatedly oscillated, and through the connection of its end 39will oscillate the frame 8 .and-blade 28 (as hereinbeforedescribed)toward 'and from Y the guard 2 to provide small cuttingstrokes. The adjustment of screw 59 determines Athe extent to'which thecontact 47 will be shifted, and the nearer to the extension the contactpoint 48 is shifted, the' shorter will be the throw or stroke of thearmature, with the result that the speed or rate of vibration of thearmature and cutting blade will be increased. Conversely adjustment. ofthe screw in the opposite direction will decrease the rate of vibrationand increase the stroke of the armature, both increase and decrease, ofcourse, being only within certain limits. When one desires to stop themotor, the plate 56' and post 54 are shifted along the slot to the right(Figs. 1 and 8) and contact 47 whenV thus released springs down andopens the circuit.

It -will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be madein the embodiment herein described and illustrated within the principleand scope of my invention.

I claim:

l. Asafety razor comprising a support l.

having a forward guard and a wall portion, stationary guides on saidwall portion, a

frame provided with guides co-operating:

with the stationary guides for movement along the same, a blade carriedby the frame and disposed at an'acute angle with respect to the plane ofthe guides, means on the frame for adjusting the blade toward and,

from the plane of the guides, means on the support for causing movementof said frame and blade upon the stationary guides, and a cover for theblade carried by the frame and acting as a rear guard. h

2. A safety razor comprising a support having a forward guard and a wallportion, a frame mounted on'the wall portion for repeated shortmovements in alternate directions, a plate carried by the frame foradjustment toward or from the wall portion, a blade carried bythe plate,a cover hinged to the Yframe and holding the blade in position en theplate,I said cover also serving as a rear guard, and means onthe supportfor causing said repeated short movements of the frame and blade.

v ma

3. A safety razor comprising a support l having a forward guard and awall portion, a frame mounted on the wall portion for reheated shortmovements in alternate directions, .a plate carried by the frame foradjustment toward or from the wall portion, a.

blade carried by the platea cover hinged to the frame and engaging withone portion of the blade for holding the same in position on the plate.a spring member carried by the cover and engaging another portion of theblade to'yieldingly hold it against the plate,

' and means on the support lfor causing said repeated short'movements ofthe frame and blade. A A

4.V In a safety razor, a support having a Vforward guard and`arearguard, a plate slidable on said support toward or from the forwardguard, a spring normally tending to retract said plate from the forwardguard, means adjustable on said support for forcing said plateI towardthe guard, a cutting blade carried by the plate for movement therewithin the space between the guards to be shifted outwardly when a close cutis desired and inwardly when a light cut is desired.

5. In a safety razor, a support having a forward guard, a carriermounted for Inovement en said support, a rear guard secured to ythecarrier for movement therewith, a blade mounted on said carrier with itscutting edge extending between the front and rear guards, andmeans onthe carrier for shifting said blade to variable extents through thespace between the guards for causing a light or close shave.

6. In a safety razor, a support having a member provided with lugsextending outwardly from one face thereof, and Varranged in twospaced-rows, a plate slidable on the member between the rows of lugs,means for limiting movement of the plate in one direction, a springreacting between the support' ing member and the plate for shifting theplate in the opposite direction, means 4adjustable on the member, forshifting the plate in said one direction against the action of thespring, a removable cuttingblade carried by the plate, and front andrear guards carried by the support with the blade betweenY them.

7. In a safetyA razor, a supporting frame, a

t plate slidable on the frame, a spring reacting between the plate andframe for shifting the platey on the frame in one direction, meansadjustable on the frame for shifting the plate against the `action ofthe spring, a cover plate hinged to the frame and co-acting with "saidspring to be yieldingly held in either open or closed position, aremovable cutting blade carriedby the plate for movement therewith andhaving its cutting edge extending beyond the edge of the cover platewhen the latter is in closed position,

supporting means for the frame having a -guard disposed adjacent theface of the blade opposite to that adjacent the cover` plate, the

adjustmentlof the plate'l and blade uponthe frame projecting the cuttingedge of the blade through the space between the cover plate and guard toa greater or less extent whereby a light or close cut may be obtainedwhen the razor is used.

8. In a safety razor, a carrierhaving upstanding ears and also spacediding means thereon, a plate mounted to slide on the carrier' betweenthe spaced` guiding means, a

spring strip secured intermediate of its ends to said plate, and havingitsl ends bearing a inst said ears to exert a. force on said .p atetending to move the latter in one direction between the guiding means, amember adjustably carried by said carrier for shifting the platevariable extents between the guiding means in opposition to the springstrip, a cutting blade carried by the plate, and a cover forming a rearguardhinged to said ears and acting when closed u on the blade toprevent removal of the bla e from the plate.

9. In a safety razor, a carrier having upstanding ears and also spacediding means thereon, a plate mounted to slide on the carrier between thespaced guiding means, a spring strip secured intermediate of its ends tosaid plate, and having its ends bearing against said ears to exert aforce on said plate tending to move the latter in one direction betweenthe guiding means, a member y adjustably carried by said carrier forshifting the plate variable extents between the guiding means inopposition to the spring strip, a cutting blade carried by the plate,and a cover forming a rear guard hinged to said ears and acting whenclosed upon the blade to prevent removal of the blade from the plate,said cover having angular corners engaging with the ends of the springstrip whereby the cover will be. yieldingly held in either open orclosed position.

10. In a safety razor, a carrier having upstanding ears and also spacedguiding means thereon, a plate mounted to slide on the carrier betweenthe spaced guiding means, a spring strip secured intermediate of itsends to said plate, and having its ends bearing against said ears toexert a force on said plate tending to move the latter in one directionbetween the guiding means, a member adjustably carried by said carrierfor shifting the plate variable extents between the guiding meansin'opposition to the spring lll means thereon, a plate mounted to slideon A the carrier between the spaced guiding means, a spring stripsecured intermediate of its endsl to said plate, and having its endsbearing against said ears to exert a. force on said plate tending` tomove the latter in one direction between the guiding means, a'rmemberadjustabl carried by sai carrier for "shifting the p ate variableextentsbetween the-guiding means in opposition tothe spring strip, acutting blade carried .by the late, and a. cover formin a hinged to saidears and acting las when closed upon the blade adjacent its for- Wardend to prevent removal of the blade from the plate, and resilient meanscarried by the under side of the cover for engagin with rear portion ofthe top face of the blade to hold it flatly against the plate,

said cover having angular corners engaging with the ends of the springstrip `whereby the cover Will be yieldingly held in either open orclosed position.

12. In a safety razor having front and rear guards, a blade having acutting edge, a carrier device for said blade mounted for vibratorymovement in a direction substantially parallel with a plane tangent tothe outer faces of the guards, said carrier device having a portionadjustable thereon .to thrust the cutting edge of the blade throughvariable extents obliquely toward and from said plane and means forcausing vibratory movements of said carrier device.

13. A safety razor comprising a support having a forward guard, guidescarried by the support and extending in a plane parallel to theeffective edge of the guard, said.

guides being also oblique to the edge of 'the guard, a frame mounted insaid guides for movement on the support, and a cutting blade carried bythe frame with its face making an angle of approximately 20 with theplane of the guides and with its edge parallel with the ed e of theguard, a rear guard carried by t e frame, and means carried by thehandle for causing repeated movements of the frame in the guides.

14. A safety razor comprising a support, having a front guard thereon, acarrier frame mounted for movement thereon, a cutting blade mounted onthe carrier frame xwith its cutting edge oblique to the direction 'ofmovement of the carrier frame and with the blade disposed in a planemaking an angle of approximately 20 with the plane of movement of thecarrier frame, a rear guard carried by the carrier frame and movabletherewith, and means for causing movements of the carrier frame upon thesupport. i

15. In a safety razor, a support having a forward guard, a plateslidably mounted on said support, a cutting blade removably carried bythe plate, a cover pivoted to the support forming a rear guard whenclosed against the blade and holding the cutting blade upon the plate,means carried by the support and adjustable to force the plate and bladein one direction upon the support, and a single spring carried by theplate and acting upon the cover to oppose the movement of the plate bythe said means and acting to resiliently hold the cover in either itsopen or closed position.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

JOHN N. JOHNSON.

